Syllabus (GEOGRAPHY)

Course Type: MAJ-8

Semester: 6

Course Code: BGEOMAJ08T

Course Title: Philosophy of Geography

(L-P-Tu): 5-0-1

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: To cater knowledge pertaining to the nature of the subject. to represent the systematic development of the subject from prehistoric to modern times. To promotes an understanding related to the vastness and dynamicity of the discipline as a science of synt

Learning Outcome: Students will have an in-depth knowledge of the development of the subject and its different philosophical outlooks. Students will get new knowledge in emerging areas for discourse and development in geographical studies. It will enable students to pursue

Course Title: Philosophy of Geography

Unit I: Evolution of Prehistoric Geographical Ideas [26 Hours]
1.1 Contribution of pioneers in the development of geographical ideas: Greeks and Romans. (6 lectures)
1.2 Dark Age- A period of turmoil in Europe and its impact on Geography. (6 lectures)
1.3 Contribution of Indian, Chinese, and Arab geographers in shaping the geographical knowledge. (8 lectures)
1.4 Age of exploration and discoveries. (6 lectures)

Unit II: Evolution of Modern Geographical Ideas [28 Hours]
2.1 Bernhard Varenius and Immanuel Kant: Cosmography to scientific geography. Founders of modern geographical thoughts- Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Ritter. (6 lectures)
2.2 Schools of Geography- German, French, British, and American. (8 lectures
2.3 Dichotomies and dualism in geography, (8 lectures)
2.4 Quantitative revolution and paradigm shift in geography. (6 lectures)

Unit II: Contemporary Discourses [24 Hours]
3.1 Positivism and Empiricism (6 lectures)
3.2 Marxism, Radicalism (6 lectures)
3.3 Behaviourilism, Humanistic Geography (6 lectures)
3.4 Postmodernism, Gender Geography (6 lectures)

Selected References:
1. Hussain, M. 2017. Evolution of Geographical Thought, Rawat Publications.
2. Adhikari, S. 2015. Fundamentals of Geographical Thought, Orient Blackswan Pvt. Ltd.
3. Dikshit, R.D. 2018. Geographical Thought - A Contextual History of Ideas. PHI Learning.
4. Hartshorne, R. 2002. The Nature of Geography, Rawat Publication.
5. Peet, R. 2011. Modern Geographical Thought, Rawat Publication.
6. Harvey, D. 2007. Explanation in Geography, Rawat Publication

7. Cresswell, T. 2013. Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell.

8. Couper, P. 2015. A Student′s Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, Methodologies. Sage